Volkswagen Kombi air cooling is a badge for cars. This is a classic van, full of character, and many young guys (and girls) are still eager to get hold of their daily driver. But do they have a little long tooth to make a practical car for everyday use?
I drive my 1976 liter bay window every day, and my experience gives you a good idea of what you might have to do to make your unique Kombi safe and comfortable as a main car.
Volkswagen Kombis for over 30 years, and it shows. Over the past few years I have spent a lot of time and money to get my money back in reasonable conditions, and if you buy a cheap combi, you should be ready to do the same. Even more expensive combi will most likely need some repairs and TLC.
The 1800cc and 2 liter models are the most practical because they have more features and capabilities than models with smaller engines, although it costs more to rebuild engines.
First up.
Kombis are cool, they are iconic, they have character, and they are definitely not boring.
They are funny to the driver, and when they are in a good nickname, they are comfortable and do well with good steering. Later models of bay windows do not lag behind traffic and can cruise at 60 miles per hour all day, although they slow down on large hills.
And they are practical. Kombi has a lot of space. It may not be as good as a modern van because of a hump for the rear engine, but they still make a great camper or an 8-seater van with room for luggage or groceries. Ground clearance is good, and the engine over the rear wheels gives you a good two-wheel drive if you want to get off the beaten track a bit.
Now, here's what you need to know if you plan to own one of them as your daily driver.
Rust is, of course, the biggest Kombis killer or any old car. You spend a lot more money a lot better and get a reasonable rust free Combi. Considering that you will find rust free combi, although there are still many things to eat your money before it is even practical to use your van on a daily basis.
Engine may be worn. A few years ago I rebuilt a mine with new barrels and pistons, new bearings, a crankshaft and a camshaft, and also rebuilt heads. The heads were converted for use with unleaded gasoline simultaneously. It all costs money.
Steering and suspension are safety related and must be correct.
On the suspension, I replaced the four main ball joints and bumps. With the steering control, I replaced all the ends of the tier and the main center pin. The steering damper is next in the list of notes, and this should see the steering for my combi. It is always possible that you may need a new steering gear.
It is also necessary that your Kombi brakes are correct. Brake linings are something that requires regular replacement, but I also replaced the rear brake drums because they were worn out, and the front discs need to be replaced the next time the front brake pads are performed.
I replaced all the flexible brake hoses, because they are already more than thirty years old, and they become fragile, and I replaced some metal brake lines because they were corroded. The rear brake cylinders were replaced a few years ago, and the front brake calipers were rebuilt with new seals.
On the rear wheel drive there are four cv joints, and those on my bay window were very sad. They were replaced with rear wheel bearings.
One very important area to look at is the fuel lines for the engine. Kombis is really burning, and this is caused by spraying gasoline around the engine. Check the fuel lines carefully, and if they look old and cracked, replace them with a quality fuel line. Make sure they do not rub on the hose and that the pipes going to the car and the fuel pump are not loose. It is important!
As with all that you know, a correction may be required, there is always a surprise. A spray nozzle from the car appeared in the box, and it went through the engine. It was only a small thin brass tube, but it sounded like marbles were heard in the engine. Fortunately, there was no damage, but it meant pulling out the engine and removing the cylinder heads to check everything and remove the remnants of the spray nozzle. And just this week I had to replace the alternator.
In addition to mechanical wear, there are cosmetics that you need to think about. Your cheap Kombi may need paint, new carpets, new upholstery, and even front seats may require attention.
On the comfortable side, new door seals and window seals may be required to stop cracks and drafts. The heater may require some attention. Heating cables were installed on my combines. It did not bother me until I moved from a hot part of the country to a colder region, where in winter the temperature falls below zero.
On the plus side parts are easily accessible. For my combi, the 2-liter model of 1976, I was able to buy every part I needed, besides carby spray nozzles, and even then I could get along with parts of another VW model.
My opinion is that, despite all the repairs and restoration, the Volkswagen Kombis can still be a practical daily driver. You need to accept the fact that your purchase price is only part of the story, and you have to spend time and money to bring classic Kombi back to a safe and comfortable state.
